Don't miss MiHR's upcoming webinars for extensive research and analysis on the Canadian mining labour market in your region for 2011-2021

Attend one of MiHR's free webinars and learn about:

 National mining economic overview  Mining labour market trends and how this impacts HR Forecasted hiring requirements for Canada Forecasted hiring requirements for your region Hiring requirements for the Top 10 occupations in your region What the gap analysis between the mining industry's hiring requirements and available talent means

MiHR and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) have worked together with other partners to create Mining Essentials: A Work Readiness Training Program for Aboriginal Peoples to help companies and communities meet joint hiring and employment targets. Beginning last fall, Mining Essentials was piloted at Anishinabek Employment and Training Services (AETS) in Thunder Bay, ON, Northwest Community College in Hazelton, BC and Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council in Kenora, ON.

Mining Essentials teaches industry validated essential, non-technical skills and knowledge the mining industry requires for an individual to be considered for an entry-level position. The program enables companies to benefit from a local, skilled and empowered workforce and it also fosters economic development that results in healthy communities.

Impacts of the pilot program

A total of 22 learners graduated from the Mining Essentials pilot, with nine now employed in the mining sector and four employed in other sectors. One learner has returned to school and five candidates are actively looking for work. Earlier this month, the AFN received a report from Northwest Community College that there has been an 80 per cent success rate for the graduates who have either found employment or have gone back to school for advanced training.

It's another step in the right direction for an industry that is already the largest employer of Aboriginal peoples. MiHR's Canadian Mining Employment and Hiring Forecasts 2011report indicates seven per cent of the mining workforce self-identify as being of Aboriginal descent, nearly double the rate for the overall labour force.

Program details

Mining Essentials teaches skills using industry examples, tools, documents and situations and traditional Aboriginal teaching methods and mediums. It is a 12 week training program that combines classroom training on essential and work readiness (non-technical) skills and enrichment activities that bring industry to life through site visits, hands-on activities, guest speakers, and/or certifications, etc., as defined by the training site and their partners. Training must involve three-way partnerships between communities, educators and industry.

MiHR and the AFN partnered with provincial, territorial and national associations, communities, educators and employers to develop Mining Essentials. A complete listing of committee members and more detailed information about the program is available at http://www.aboriginalmining.ca/.

What's happening now?

The Mining Essentials Program is currently being delivered at Northern College in Timmins, ON, in partnership with the Wabun Tribal Council and Detour Gold. MiHR and the AFN are now looking to identify more qualified training sites and partners to increase opportunities to deliver Mining Essentials across Canada to launch the program in January 2012. A request for proposals was broadcast in September to allow potential training sites time to secure partners and funding.

The Mining Essentials Program was developed through the Ready to Mine, Skills Development Project, funded by HRSDC's Aboriginal Affairs Directorate under the Aboriginal Skills Training Strategic Investment Fund. For more information on Mining Essentials or to obtain a copy of the request for proposals, please contact Pascale Larouche at (613) 270-9696 x 22 or plarouche@mihr.ca.

This fall, MiHR launched a new photo contest for post-secondary mining students on our Mining Students of Canada Facebook page. This contest engaged the mining student community and provided a platform for students to share their work and co-op experiences in the Canadian mining industry in a creative format. The contest asked students to showcase their love of mining and photography by posting their best original photos to the Mining Students of Canada Facebook Wall and was open to any student studying a mining related discipline in a Canadian post-secondary institution.

Students had the option of submitting photos in four distinct categories: Techno-Mine; Safety First!; Adventures in Mining; and Mining with Integrity. The contest was a success! There were 28 original photo entries received and students from across Canada voted for their favourite photo in each category by 'liking' the photo on the Mining Students of Canada Facebook wall. The contest closed on October 7th, 2011 and the winners of each category receive a $50 Mountain Equipment Co-op Gift Card.

And the winners are

 Techno-Mine: The mining industry uses technology in so many new and exciting ways - show us the coolest technology you have seen in mining/or in the classroom

Raja Yarra for his picture of St. Andrew Goldfields, Hislop Mine "Big, loud, underground. Three words sum up my summer adventure at St. Andrew Goldfields Based out of Matheson, Ontario. I loved every minute of it. This picture shows some of the equipment used in mining and why we need our PPE (personal protective equipment)," explains Raja, a student at Brock University studying Earth Science. He intends on graduating in 2013 and would like to join the exploration industry for some experience before he pursues a graduate degree. Safety First! It's our industry's motto - show us how you have seen Safety First in action in a mining workplace/school

"We had to end the day early in Pickle Lake, Ontario when the wind changed direction and blew the smoke from the forest fires in our direction, reducing the visibility to 3/8 miles," recalls Meaghan, a Brock University student studying Environmental Geoscience. She intends on graduating in April 2014 and is interested in a career which involves field work. After working with the OGS this past summer, she is interested in a career in geomorphology. As well, she hopes to get her APGO as soon as possible.

 Adventures in Mining: The mining industry offers so many opportunities in extreme environments - share a picture of your mining adventure

Meaghan Francis for her picture of a double rainbow over Noront Esker Camp

"The picture was taken this summer, near Webequie, Ontario, after a rain storm," recalls Meaghan.

Congratulations Meaghan for winning two of the four categories!

 Mining with Integrity: The mining industry is changing and there are some great environmental and social initiatives happening in the industry - show us how mining is creating a better world

Anthony Bauer for his picture that illustrates the reclamation of oil sands land as pasture land

"Syncrude and other lease sites are helping to sustain Wood Buffalo herds in Alberta and contributing to a genetics preservation project," explains Anthony, a Masters Student at the University of Waterloo, studying aquatic toxicology, specifically with reference to oil sand contaminants. He will be graduating in the summer of 2012 and intends on continuing his studies in pursuit of a PhD, after which he intends on pursuing a career in the area of aquatic toxicology.

Thank you to all of the students who made this inaugural photo contest a success by submitting photos and/or voting for the best images! To view all contest entries, please visit the Mining Students of Canada Facebook page. This Facebook page is solely for students pursuing mining-related studies, but we invite employers and educators to join our Careers in Mining Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter. If you are an employer or educator interested in getting a message out to students on the Mining Student of Canada Facebook page, please contact chughes@mihr.ca.

Didn't see a snapshot from your mine? Not to worry! Encourage students to keep their cameras packed and ready for the next co-op placement or internship at your mine, as MiHR will be running this photo contest again next fall. We look forward to seeing more amazing images from students as they experience the Canadian mining industry in 2012.

Through keynote presentations, interactive panel discussions and case studies, the speakers at this Fleming Gulf conference will share their insights on current and emerging challenges in the sphere of human asset expansion and management in the mining industry.

MiHR's executive director, Ryan Montpellier, will be delivering a presentation on the Council's Canadian Mining Credentials Program: National certification for mine workers - A solution to support labour mobility, retention, attraction and mitigate the effects of the mining cycle